Tall Ships arrive in Britain

On Friday 11 June 2004, an armada of beautifully crafted Tall Ships and sailing yachts will descend on the South Cumbrian port of Barrow-in-Furness to take their place in the three-day International Power & Glory Tall Ships – Barrow 2004 event.

The three-mast barque, former whaling ship, ‘Artimes’ and the Polish-built tall ship ‘Mir’ (pictured above) - used in Tall Ships races and as a maritime training ship - are just two of the vessels that will take pride of place in Barrow’s harbour on that weekend in June.

The event is being held by Barrow Borough Council in conjunction with Associated British Ports and is part of Barrow’s annual Festival of the Sea.

There is a weekend full of action and entertainment built around the majestic Tall Ships and the National Powerboat Championship. As well as these main attractions the town is also expecting to welcome the Red Arrows, a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Falcon Parachute Display Team. Add to this a large participation from the Army, the Royal Navy and the RAF and the event offers something for everyone.

As if this weren’t enough, the event is also likely to include a selection of smaller yachts for public viewing, a rescue demonstration by the Coastguard and a chance for visitors to try their hand at windsurfing, jet skiing, kayaking and sailing.

Steven Young, Port Manager for joint-hosts, Associated British Ports said:

"ABP is delighted that its Port of Barrow is to be the venue for such an exciting international maritime event that promises to be a showcase for some of the attractions the area has to offer. The history of the port is inextricably linked to the industrial development of the town, with commercial shipping dating back to the 12th century. Events such as this, together with the current proposals for regenerating the waterside, show that the port is well placed to remain an integral part of the town's future in the years to come"

For the speed enthusiasts, the weekend will offer Round 3 of the Royal Yacht Association National Powerboat Racing Championship 2004. As well as this important leg of the Formula 2000 National championships, a number of other powerboat classes will be taking to the water over the course of the weekend. In all, Barrow will welcome 6 different classes to its docks and a series of high-velocity races will be contested by some of Europe’s best powerboat pilots. With a number of world-class competitors fighting for supremacy at speeds of up to 120mph, the powerboating promises to be both highly charged and highly entertaining.

Completing the list of entertainment on offer at the International Power & Glory Festival, will be a wide variety of other attractions and side shows for all to enjoy including a fun fair, local radio roadshows and street entertainers.

Commenting on how much the event will mean to Barrow, Ann Taylforth of Borough Council said:

“This will be a fantastic event for the whole of Barrow and the surrounding area. It fits in perfectly with our on-going regeneration projects with the Port area being one of the key regeneration targets. We first held a Festival of the Sea in 2002 and it is now an annual event that runs from 1 May to 30 August. The International Power and Glory – Tall Ships 2004 promises to be the real highlight of this year’s festivities. Hopefully this event will help to bring the community together and raise the profile of Barrow-in-Furness both regionally and nationally.”

Tickets for the June event will go on sale early in the New Year and can be purchased in advance from Barrow Tourist Information Centre for a special reduced rate. Tickets can also be purchased on arrival at the event and will be charged at the standard rate. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult but will be admitted free of charge.

With all these attractions and spectacles together in the same place on one weekend, the International Power & Glory - Tall Ships Barrow 2004 is sure to be one of the must see events of the summer.